Ferry fire off Indonesia leaves 5 dead, 41 missing

Officials from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported the incident, with Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, stating that three navy ships were deployed to assist in the rescue. Local fishermen also aided in the evacuation efforts, saving some survivors who were drifting in life jackets in choppy waters. In total, 284 passengers and crew members were rescued.

Photos and videos released by Basarnas showed terrified passengers jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the ferry. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation, but incidents involving fires and sinkings are not uncommon, often attributed to weak safety enforcement.